KARACHI: Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi on Thursday launched a book titled “State of Pakistan’s Economy: During Pandemic and Beyond 2021-22.”
Faculty members of Department of Economics, School of Economics and Social Sciences , and Center of Business and Economics Research contributed in this important task, said IBA release.
Following its tradition of last two years, faculty of Department of Economics analysed the state of Pakistan’s economy in the backdrop of the federal budget 2021-22.
The analyses culminated into a book which was launched at IBA Karachi, Main Campus. The attendees included members from academia, media, corporate sector, IBA faculty, students and alumni.
The book was launched through a panel discussion featuring Technical Specialist in Agricultural Policies, Dr. Mubarik Ahmed, former advisor to prime minister on revenue, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan and Director, Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi, Prof. Dr. Samina Khalil.
The panel discussion was moderated by Executive Director, IBA Karachi, Dr. S. Akbar Zaidi and Dean, School of Economics and Social Sciences, Dr. Asma Hyder.
Dr. Zaidi welcomed the panellists and the guests and introduced the contents of the book. On the fiscal space, he added, FBR met its targets due to devaluation of rupee and duties on import.
The co-moderator of the session, Dr. Hyder, shed light on the thought process behind the book by sharing that it was Dr. Zaidi’s idea that the faculty of Economics Department should come forward in facilitating the government and policymakers for providing scholarly input on economic issues.
Dr. Waqar Masood Khan congratulated IBA’s faculty on publishing the book which has insightful chapters.
He mentioned that people would await the publication if IBA published it periodically and in a timely manner.
The analyses presented in the book covered a broad range of aspects of Pakistan’s macroeconomic policy. It presented the future landscape of the economy.
It provided an assessment of the budget performance in 2020-21 and analysed the outlook of fiscal policy for 2021-22. It discussed State Bank of Pakistan’s response to various demand and supply-side shocks during the last two decades.
Dr. Mubarak Ahmed shared with the audience that the book rightly highlighted that Pakistan’s agricultural policies were in a primitive stage of development. The book focused on the prospects of regaining the trade competitiveness in the post-Covid-19 scenario and growth and trade prospects in view of the business confidence index.
It analysed the sectoral issues related to construction, energy, and agriculture respectively and the effects of Covid-19 on the labor market. It covered the state of education during the pandemic, the youth and opportunities. Lastly, it provided a snapshot of social protection in the country in the wake of the pandemic.
Dr. Samina Khalil underscored the need to include environmental and health economics in economic discussions.